For Telangana landowners to maintain accurate land records for legal or development purposes, set clear boundaries, and settle disputes, agricultural land surveys are essential. A land survey guarantees openness and adherence to state laws whether you’re looking to sell your property, settle an inheritance, or establish ownership. You can apply for an agricultural land survey in Telangana with ease and confidence thanks to this blog’s thorough, step-by-step instructions.
What is an Agricultural Land Survey?
An experienced and technical procedure for measuring and plotting a piece of agricultural land is called an agricultural land survey. It entails utilizing specialized tools (such as GPS and total stations) to accurately determine a property’s size, area, and geographic coordinates. An official map or sketch, called a “Tippan” or “Field Measurement Book – FMB” copy in Telangana, is the result of a survey and gives a detailed and lawful description of the boundaries of the land.
Required Documents for Agricultural Land Survey in Telangana
- Proof of Ownership (Most Important): You need a copy of any one of the following documents to prove you own the land.
- Pattadar Passbook (Title Deed cum Passbook)
- Registered Sale Deed or Title Deed
- Proof of Identity:
- Aadhaar Card of the applicant (the landowner).
- Latest Land Revenue Record:
- A copy of the latest Pahani / Adangal. This document shows the current status of the land, including the owner’s name and cultivation details.
- Rough Sketch Map of the Land:
- A straightforward, hand-drawn map of your property that includes the survey numbers of the neighboring lands, its approximate shape, and any nearby landmarks. This makes it easier for the surveyor to locate the property.
- Application Form:
- This is the form you will fill out either online on the Dharani portal or at the MeeSeva center with the operator’s help.
- Affidavit (Sometimes Required):
- A notarized document or self-declaration certifying to your ownership rights and the reason for the survey request. The format can be written on plain paper or is typically available at the MeeSeva center.
How to apply for survey of agricultural land in Telangana? (Step-by-Step Process to Apply
Step 1: Visit the Relevant Authority
Your first step is to decide how you want to apply. You have two primary options:
- Online Application (Recommended):
- Authority: The Dharani Portal, which is the official, integrated land records website for the Government of Telangana.
- Details: This is the most successful approach. You can apply from any location, pay online, upload digital documents, and keep track of your application in real time. It was designed to be transparent and lessen the need for in-person trips to government buildings.
- Offline Application (Assisted):
- Authority: A MeeSeva Center or the local Mandal Revenue Office (MRO) / Tahsildar Office.
- Details: You can visit a MeeSeva center if you would rather receive help in person or if you are uncomfortable using online systems. The operator there will complete the application and submit it online via their portal on your behalf. MeeSeva is the standard channel for citizen services, but you can also go straight to the MRO office.
Step 2: Submit Application Form
The application form is where you provide all the critical information about yourself and your land.
- Online Form: On the Dharani portal, you will fill out a digital form. The fields will be clearly labeled.
- Physical Form: At a MeeSeva center, the operator will fill out the same information into their system based on the details you provide.
How to Fill the Form Accurately: Have your Pattadar Passbook or Sale Deed with you. You must enter the following details exactly as they appear in your official land documents to avoid rejection:
- Applicant’s Details: Full Name, Father’s Name, Aadhaar Number, Mobile Number.
- Land Location: District, Mandal, and Village.
- Land Identification: Survey Number(s) and Sub-division Number(s) of the parcel(s) you want to be surveyed.
- Land Extent: The exact area of the land (e.g., in Acres and Guntas).
Step 3: Attach Required Documents and Pay Fees
Your application is incomplete without the necessary supporting documents and fee payment.
- Submitting Documents:
- Online: You will need to scan and upload clear copies of your documents (usually in PDF or JPG format).
- Offline: You will hand over physical photocopies of your documents to the MeeSeva operator.
- Application Fees: The government sets the cost of a land survey, which usually varies according to the size of the land and the number of survey numbers. The cost is typically low. This fee can be paid in person at the MeeSeva counter or online via the Dharani portal’s payment gateway.
Step 4: Schedule the Survey
Once your application is successfully submitted and verified, the official process begins.
- How it’s Scheduled:The corresponding Tahsildar (MRO) has received your application electronically. It is given to the Mandal Surveyor by the Tahsildar. The surveyor will set a date for the field inspection based on their schedule.
- Official Notice: An official notification of the survey date will be sent to you by mail or SMS. Importantly, in order to make sure the owners of the properties next to yours are informed and able to attend, the authorities will also serve notices to them.
- Estimated Timeline: Depending on the department’s workload, the survey is usually scheduled between 15 and 30 working days after the date of your application.
Step 5: Survey Execution
This is the physical inspection stage where the actual measurement takes place.
- What Happens:The Mandal Surveyor will bring their tools, such as a Total Station, to your property on the appointed day. They will mark the boundaries, frequently with boundary stones (haddu bastu rayi), and measure the land in accordance with official records.
- Importance of Your Presence: It is critically important for you (the landowner) or a trusted representative to be present during the survey. Your presence is needed to:
- Point out your claimed boundaries.
- Answer any questions the surveyor may have.
- Witness the process and sign the official report (panchanama) confirming the survey was conducted in your presence. The presence of neighboring landowners is also vital to prevent future disputes.
Step 6: Receiving Survey Results
After the fieldwork is complete, the surveyor finalizes the report and updates the records.
- What You Receive:An official, certified copy of the survey map, also known as a Tippan or FMB (Field Measurement Book) copy, is the end product. The boundaries and area of your land are legally defined by this document. Additionally, the Dharani portal’s digital records will be updated.
- How to Access Results:
- Online: If you applied through Dharani, you should be able to download the digitally signed survey map from the portal once it is approved and issued.
- Offline: You may need to collect the physical copy of the survey map from the MRO/Tahsildar office.
Online Application via Dharani Portal
The Government of Telangana’s ground-breaking integrated land records management system is called the Dharani portal. By integrating registration and administration services onto a single platform, it acts as a single source of truth for all agricultural land records. Its objective is to make land transactions safe, effective, and transparent for the public.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Online
- Register/Login:
- Go to the official Dharani portal website (
dharani.telangana.gov.in). - Click on “Sign Up” if you are a first-time user. You will need your name, mobile number, and email to register. You will validate your identity using an OTP sent to your mobile.
- If you are already registered, click “Login” and enter your credentials.
- Go to the official Dharani portal website (
- Navigate to the Land Survey Section:
- After logging in, look for a section named “Citizen Services” or “Applications”.
- Within this section, find the service named “Application for Survey and Demarcation” or “Application for Fixation of Land Boundaries.”
- Fill in Details and Upload Documents:
- The online application form will appear. Carefully fill in your personal and land details (Survey No., Village, Mandal, etc.) as explained in Step 2 above.
- You will be prompted to upload scanned copies of the required documents (Pattadar Passbook, Aadhaar Card, etc.). Ensure your scans are clear and legible.
- Pay Applicable Fees Online:
- After filling the form and uploading documents, the portal will calculate the required fee.
- You will be directed to a secure payment gateway. You can pay using UPI, Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
- Upon successful payment, a Transaction ID and acknowledgment receipt will be generated. Save this ID carefully.
- Track Application Status:
- You can monitor the progress of your application at any time.
- Go to the “Track Application Status” section on the portal.
- Enter your Application ID or Transaction ID to see the current stage of your request (e.g., “Submitted,” “Forwarded to MRO,” “Survey Scheduled,” “Approved”).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the easiest way to apply for a land survey?
Applying online via the Dharani portal is the simplest and most advised approach. It reduces the need for trips to government offices by enabling you to submit your application, upload supporting documentation, pay fees, and monitor the status from any location.
2. What is the most important document I need for the application?
The most important document is the land’s Sale Deed or your Pattadar Passbook. It includes the official information that needs to be accurately entered in the application, such as the land extent and survey number.
3. How much does a land survey cost?
The fee is not fixed. It is determined by the government based on the extent of the land and the number of survey numbers involved. The amount is generally minimal and will be calculated automatically when you apply on the Dharani portal or at a MeeSeva center.
4. How long does the entire process take?
Typically, the process takes between 15 to 30 working days from application submission to the scheduling of the physical survey. The final delivery of the survey records may take a little longer.
5. What should I do if my neighbor disputes the survey?
Prior to the survey date, the government surveyor must formally notify the owners of all nearby properties. The surveyor will document any disagreements that come up during the survey. Official Field Measurement Book (FMB) records, which provide the legal foundation for settling such disputes, are the basis for the survey.
6. Do I have to be present for the survey?
Yes, it is highly recommended that the landowner or a trusted representative be present. Your presence ensures that you can point out your claimed boundaries and sign off on the official proceedings, which strengthens the validity of the survey report.
7. Can I apply for a survey of a sub-division of land?
Yes, you can apply for a survey to officially demarcate a sub-division (phodi). This is common during family partitions or when selling a part of a larger land parcel. The process is the same.
8. Is a survey mandatory to sell my land?
While not always mandatory, having a recent and clear survey map is highly advisable. It provides legal clarity on boundaries and area to the buyer, prevents future disputes, and can make the property transaction much smoother.